Loose-leaf binder.



" c. M-.1 GQTT.L LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATIDN IILED 2-3, 1908. l

Patented June 22,1909.

TH: Ncmus Firing :n.fwlsnmcmnl, n. c.

i No. 925,869.

UNrrED s'rnrns:

`CHARLES M. GOTT, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tune 22, 1909.

Application filed November 23, 1908. Serial No. 464,112.

`To all whom it may/concern:

Be it known that IfUHARLEs M. Corr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and Statef of Ghio,` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, ofwhich the following is a specification. l

7 My invention relates to the improvement of Aloose leaf binders or covers `for books of that class in which-sheets ofpaperY are removably bound, and the objects of my invention are to rovide a simple and improved construction o loose leaf binder; to provide an improved hinge construction between the book back and `cover boards; to provide improved binding means by means of which the removal or insertion of pages or sheets maybe readily and easily effected; to provide means for locking or permanently binding the leaves ofthe book whereby they may be lretained in a bound condition independent ofthe book cover, and to produce other improvements in details of construction which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. p

These objects -I accomplish inthe manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective `o`f`one of my improved binders, showing forthe sake of illustration, a portion of the bound sheets Fig. 2 is a sectional view through one of the binding bars, Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of one of the hinge plates, Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the removable hinge rods, and, Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the binder bars. e

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention, I employ upper and lower cover boards 1 and 2 and a uniting curved back 3. This latter is made rigid, by the employment therein ofa pluralityof curved and united back sections;

one of which as indicated at 3a is comparatively thick and of material rendering it nonbendable. The rigid back thus formed, comprises also, strips of flexible material 4 and 5, the end extensions ofV which form iieXible connections with the cover boards 1 and 2,

` flexible connecting strip `6 which has its outer end portions united to the inner faces or surfaces of the cover boards and which forms an inner lining for the back 3. The back 3 is further reinforced by a curved strip 7, which is `on the outer side of the strip 4, said strip "/v'being covered by an exterior facing 8 of leather or suitable material, which is also extended to cover the outer surfaces of the back boards 1 and 2. On the inner side of the inner flexible Vstrip 6 between the upper `cover board, I provide and secure a transverse metallic hinge plate 9, a similar plate 10 being employed and secured against the inner surface of the strip 6 between the lower edge of the cover back and the rear end of the cover board 2. Each of these strips, which is of substantially equal len th with the cover back and which runs `para lei therewith, consists, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawing, of a ymetallic plate or strip doubled upon itself, being formed at its doubling line with a tubular edge or margin, as shown at 9a. `At desirable intervals this tubular plateedge is provided with vertical recesses, as shown as 9b. y In each of theupper-and lower portions of the flexible connections of the back and cover boards, I employ a metallic binding strip 11, the latter being arranged paralle with the corresponding hinge strip and on the outer side of the strip 4. These binding strips 1 1 are rigidly connected with the plates 9 and 10 through the medium of rivets 12 and serve tobindthe strips 4, 5 and 6 into close engagement with each other.4 The tubular portions 9 of the plates 9 and 10, are when the cover boards are closed toward each other, adjacent to or form abutments for the rear or inner ends of said cover boards. 13 represent binding bars vor osts, each of which is in the nature of an e ongated. bar and is provided in each end with an opening 14 in t 1e direction of the width of the bar. These binder bars are adapted, as shown in the drawing, to have their ends inserted in the recesses 9b of the plates 9 and l0 in which position they are locked by means of detachable rods 15 which7 as shown, are adapted to be inserted in the tubular marginal ortions 9a of the plates and to'pass through t e openings 14 of said bars 13. As will be observed by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawing, the passage through the tubular portion 9a of each of the plates 9 and 10 is closed at one upper portion of the coverback 3 and the endl and the pins 15 when inserted in said passages for temporary binding purposes, terminate short of the closed ends thereof. It will be understood, however, that the leaves 16 which are to be bound within the book cover, are formed in their rear margi nal portions with openings 17 which are adapted to' receive the bars 13, the insertion of the latter being accomplished when one of the rods 15 is pulled outward and one end of each of the bars 13 is thus detached from one of the hinge plates. In constructing each of the pins 15, I form one of the ends thereof pointed and the remaining end portion is provided with screw threads, to admit of the employment of a detachable internally threaded button or finger piece 15a.

By the means shown anddescribed, it will be understood that all, a portion,'or one of the sheets 16 may be removed from the binder or inserted therein by the withdrawal of one of the rods 15 and that a comparatively small number of leaves may be inclosed in the binder, or a sufiicient number to fill the space between the tubular portions of the hinge plates.

In case the book has been lled or completed, or forany other cause, it is desired to discontinue the use of the book, or to discontinue the adding of leaves thereto, o r removal of leaves therefrom, it is obvious that the binding may be made substantiallyT permanent by the removal of the threaded ca s or finger pieces 15ct from the rods 15 and y then forcing said rods inward to their limit of movement within the tubular portions 9t of the plates 9, in which position the outer end of each of said rods will be inaccessible and the binding will thus become permanent.

It will be observed that the plates 9 and 10, serve the double purpose of binding together the flexible extensions of the cover back and of forming hinge members between the back and cover boards. By securing the hinge plates to the flexible connection, the rigid back section and the hinge plates are permanently united and if through constant use, the cover boards become broken or torn away, the binding action is in no wise impaired and the-back section which ordinarily contains the identifying data of the volume, is retained in position.

`What l claim, is:

1. In a loose leaf binder, the combination with a rigid back and rigid cover boards, and a fiexible connection between said back and cover boards, of hinge lates united to said flexible connections, eac of said hinge plates comprising a recessed tubular marginal portion closed at one end, binding bars adapted to connect the recessed portions of said binding lates, detachable rods for connecting said inge plates and binding bars, and a detaclhable head threaded upon each of said roc s.

2. In a loose leaf binder, the combination with a rigid back section, of rigid cover boards, flexible fabric connections between said back and cover boards, hinge plates secured-to and carried entirely by said fabric connections, binding bars adapted to connect said hinge plates, and removable rods for connect-ing said binding bars and hinge plates, said exible connections serving as hinges for the cover boards.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES M. GOTT.

l/Vitnesses:

L. CARL STOUGHTON, A. L. PHELPs. 

